Jimmy Fallon surprised Stephen Colbert with humorous musical tribute on 'The Late Show'

Late-night television delivered a memorable moment this week when Jimmy Fallon surprised fellow host Stephen Colbert with a musical tribute during an episode of the The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

Fallon appeared as a guest on the March 5 episode and unexpectedly broke into song, serenading Colbert with a comedic rendition of My Way, the classic made famous by Frank Sinatra. 

The performance featured rewritten lyrics tailored to Colbert’s career and the upcoming end of his long-running talk show.

Before launching into the performance, Fallon presented Colbert with a commissioned painting as a gift. 

Moments later, he grabbed a microphone and began singing the altered lyrics, which humorously referenced the cancellation of Colbert’s show, the shrinking landscape of late-night television and even political figures such as Donald Trump.

At one point, Fallon joked that after the show ends, late-night television will be left with only “two Jimmys,” referring to himself and Jimmy Kimmel. 

According to People, Colbert laughed throughout the performance and eventually joined Fallon for the finale, standing on his desk while Fallon climbed onto the studio couch before the two shared a hug.

CBS announced in July 2025 that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will conclude in May 2026, bringing an end to the decades-long Late Show franchise. 

Furthermore, the network described the move as a financial decision despite the program’s strong ratings.